Roff House receives award for restoration - Kankakee Daily Journal
WATSEKA — It’s been a long journey for John Whitman and the historic Roff House in Watseka, and his efforts over a 15-year period have reaped some just rewards. Whitman, a Watseka native, has poured tons of sweat, work, money and his heart into the Italianate-style house at 300 E. Sheridan St. in Watseka. “This house is fixed up enough, it’s renovated enough, it’s beautiful enough, someone would want to come spend time in the house without knowing anything about the story, without having any interest in anything paranormal,” Whitman said. “They will say, ‘This is a beautiful, old home and I once spent time there.’ It’s finally reached that point.” Whitman bought the house in 2005 and started its rebirth from scratch. The finished product is so impressive that in October it won the Landmarks Illinois’ Driehaus Foundation’s preservation award for restoration. In awarding the Roff House, the foundation said, “The house and its stories draw people far and wide: In the pa...